Summer Songs: Nashville is Music City
Nashville keeps on stompin’ year-round, but summertime in Music City is hard to beat. The stages are packed and the town is thrumming. And after a day enjoying the sites and seeing the homes of the stars with Tommy’s Nashville Tours, thoughts turn to kicking back, relaxing, and taking in some good live music. We know that unlike a great Nashville bus tour, concert-going can be pretty tough on the wallet, so we’ve put together a few must-see venues and summer shows that won’t put a dent in your pocket:
Honky Tonk Heaven
Legendary honky tonks make Lower Broadway, SoBro, and 2nd Avenue the place to be. Treat yourself to a honky tonk crawl and enjoy a few ice-cold beverages while listening to a few blistering sets performed by world-class musicians. Doors open at 10:00 am and the party lasts until 3:00 am. At many establishments, kids are welcome until 6:00 pm, so it’s good, clean, family fun until the sun goes down and the neon comes up.
Be sure to catch a set (or two) at:
- Full Moon Saloon
- Legends Corner
- Robert’s Western World
- Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
Best of all, there’s no cover charge! But please, good country people, don’t dance and run: Broadway’s performers play for tips. Dig deep and keep these talented folks in business.
On the Cheap (or Free) Summer Music Events in Nashville
If sunshine and the great outdoors are more your thing than a beer-scented barroom, that’s okay, we’d won’t judge. In fact, Nashville is the place to be for free summer concerts.
Full Moon Pickin’ Party
July 22, August 19, September 16
Howl by the light of the full moon during the Full Moon PIckin’ Party. Bluegrass music lovers and nature lovers alike can enjoy the finest pickers in Middle Tennessee at the lovely Warner Park. All funds raised by the PIckin’ Parties help protect the Warner Parks and fund educational programming.
Tickets: Free-$20
Frist Fridays Concert Series
July 29 & August 28
Fine art, great music, and delicious eats at Frist Fridays. What’s not to enjoy? To celebrate the opening of Women, Art, and Social Change: The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise, rulers of Louisiana’s swamp pop, Cajun, country, and zedco sounds, the Revelers will blow you away. And in August, veteran alt rock hero, Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s weaves narrative and memory into his compelling songs.
Tickets: Free-$12
Pickin’ on the Plaza
July 23 & 30
You’ve seen the sights from the air-conditioned comfort of Tommy’s Nashville Tours, but now it’s time to get off the bus and put your boots on the ground at Pickin’ on the Plaza. Take in the Westbound Rangers and the Copperheads on the Ryman’s beautiful plaza.
Tickets: Free
Musician’s Corner
August 6,13, 20, 27 & September 3
From the Blind Boys of Alabama to Holly Williams to The Daybreakers, the 2016 free music lineup at Centennial Park’s Musicians Corner is astounding. Enjoy fun and educational Kidsville activities, fabulous food trucks, and all the live music you can handle.
Tickets: Free
Tomato Art Fest
August 12-13
Take a walk on the wild side and visit historic East Nashville’s Five Points and pay tribute the wacky fruit/vegetable that is the tomato at the annual Tomato Art Fest. In addition to a tomato-filled parade, tomato-themed art, tomato-infused beverages and tomato fun, the festival features five stages and dozens of live performances.
Tickets: Free
Live on the Green
August 11, 18, 25 & September 1-3
Keeping it free and local, this concert series sponsored by Lightning 100 is held on Thursday evenings throughout August at Public Square Park. Live on the Green features locally and nationally known performers like Elizabeth Cook, Kurt Vile and the Violators, and Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals are prepared to rock music city.
Tickets: Free
For a great Nashville bus tour and even better advice, hop on a Tommy’s Nashville Tours bus, we’ll take you there in style.
